The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-10
Poor Crops of Corn.

western StdteS Is not Wnat IL SnOulu DC,
nor what it would be, II more care was
bestowed on the crop. The average
yield per acre is about thirty-three
bushels or one-third the amount that
it is possible to produce. For series
of years Maine has stood first In pro-
ducing large crops of corn, according
to the report of the national depart
ment Of agriculture. The climate Of
the state is cold, the growing season
very short, and the soil. which was
never rich, is impoverished by contln-
ual groupings. The large yield Of
corn there shows what can be accom-
plished by good tilage. If corn was
planted and cultivated in Maine MS II
is in most farms IN Illinois and Iowa
tho average yield would not be over
ten bushels per acre. The difficulty OF
raising corn there causes farmers to
make every exerton to secure large
crop. Like care on the part OF farm
ers in the .pairie region Of the west
would make the average yield of corn
at least eighty bushels per acre. When
we consider the richness of our soil
and its freedom from stumps and stones
our small corn crops reflect on the way
corn-felds, are managed. No farmer in
what are called the great corn-growing
states should be satisfied with smaller
yield than fifty bushels per acre. and his
constant aim should be seventy-fve
bushels.
A variety of causes combine to re-
duce the yield of corn in the western
states far below what 1t should be.
There Is too much machine work and
little hand work, or, rs is commonly
the case. no hand work of any kind. A
sulky pillow Is used to prepare the land,
a machine is employed for dropping
the seed and for covering it, and a rid
ing cultivator performs all the work
once done bv the hoe in the hands of an
intelligent workman. That machines
are n great aid in doing field work is
not to be questioned, bu. 1t is certain
that they should not entirely supersede
hand labor Not only every hill OF
corn In field, but every stalk should
come under the observation of the cult.
vator more than once during the grow
ing season. 1t is very hard TO find
anything approaching perfect row of
corn or even well-managed western
farm. Some hills will contain more
stalks than can grow and produce
good corn, while Others will not con-
tain the requisite number. Quite likely
there will be h lis in which there are no
stalks, for the reason that the seed did
not terminate. or was eaten by birds or
squirrels. Sometimes the seed sprout.
ed. but the young stalk came in con-
tact with stones or pieces of turf and
their growth was stopped No mac inc
can be relied upon for planting corn in
missing" hills. for thinning stalks, or
for removing things that obstruct the
growth of young and tender stalks.
Sufficient care is not taken In obtain
ing suitable varieties to plant or in pro-
curing that which is reliable. Many
who plant the seed they raise are at no
pains to cure it properly. They select
ears from the crib at planting time. and
never test the vitality Of the grains.
Quite likely the cobs and kernels were
full of moisture when they were thrown
into the crib. II this was the case the
chances are that the water froze before
the corn become dry and destroyed the
germs. The surface of the ears looked
well. but there was no vitality in many
of the grains. The losses resulting
from planting varieties of corn not
suited to the locality or seed not mature
OF properly cured are very large every
year. Every corn-raiser should en-
deavor 10 obtain the variety best suited
to the climate and soil where he lives,
and he then should endeavor to i'm
prove 1t by judicious selection of ears
and kernels Ears intended for seed
should be selected while the stalks are
still stand ng in the field. They should
not remain exposed to the rain and
frost till the snow flies. They should
be traced up, hung in the snow under
an open shed, or placed in warm. airy
chamber where they will be kept dry
and out Of the way of vermin. A hop
curing house or a chamber used for
seasoning lumber is good place for
drying seed corn.
Many western farmers entertain the
idea that several successive crops of
corn can be raised without de-
creasing the fertility Of prairie soil and
they are only convinced of their error
when their fields fail 10 make fair re-
turn for the labor that is expended on
them. Corn ranks among the grass
feeders. and its supply Of food should
not be stinted. Land devoted to corn
should receive some plant food every
year II there is not sufficient stable
and barn-yard manure for the purpose,
clover and other grain crops should be
raised and turned under. Cornstalks,